Mother climbs fence at Terracotta Warriors exhibition amid child's medical emergency

A woman scaled a fence at the famous Terracotta Warriors exhibition in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, on Saturday, carrying her child who was experiencing a medical emergency.

A video of the incident, which circulated widely online over the weekend, shows the woman holding her child as she walked on the other side of the fence surrounding the terracotta warriors pit at the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum. A security guard quickly approached the woman to assist.

Local authorities in Xi'an's Lintong district told Red Star News that the woman's child had developed feverish and seizure symptoms after getting soaked in the rain. Due to overcrowding and slow-moving crowds, she was unable to push her way out to seek medical help, leading her to climb over the fence in desperation.

The video sparked a heated discussion on social media. While some criticized the woman for breaching museum rules and risking damage to the relics, the majority expressed understanding, recognizing the emergency situation and noting that no harm was done to the artifacts. Many also suggested that the museum establish and broadcast emergency routes to help tourists in similar situations.

In response to the incident, a hotline operator for the museum told Jimu News that visitors experiencing medical emergencies should immediately report to site staff, who are trained to guide them out of the crowd and to the infirmary.

Pit 1 of the museum, where the Terracotta Warriors are displayed, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Shaanxi province. Local reports indicate that the site is receiving nearly 60,000 visitors daily during the summer peak season.